LAO TREE SEED PROJECT

NAFRI DANIDA
SPECIES MONOGRAPH NO. 11
Anthocephalus chinensis
(Rubiaceae, Bean or pea family)
Kadam, Common Bur-flower tree
Mai Sa Ko
1
Published species monographs
1. Acacia auriculiformis
2. Acacia crassicarpa
3. Acacia mangium
4. Afzelia xylocarpa
5. Ailanthus triphysa
6. Albizia lebbeck
7. Albizia procera
8. Alstonia rostrata
9. Alstonia scholaris
10. Anisoptera costata
11. Anthocephalus chinensis
12. Aquillaria crassna
13. Azadirachta indica
14. Bauhinia variegata
15. Betula alnoides
16. Bischofia javanica
17. Carpinus poilanei
18. Castanopsis echinocarpa,
C. hystrix and C. ceracantha
19. Castanopsis tribuloides
20. Chukrasia tabularis
21. Dalbergia cochinchinensis
22. Dalbergia cultrata
23. Dipterocarpus alatus
24. Eucalyptus camaldulensis
26. Gmelina arborea
27. Hopea odorata
28. Keteleeria evelyniana
29. Leucaena leucocephala
30. Melia toosendan
31. Nyssa javanica
32. Ormosia semicastrata
33. Paramichelia baillonii
34. Peltophorum dasyrhachis
35. Pinus kesiya
36. Pterocarpus macrocarpus
37. Quercus griffithii
38. Quercus serrata
39. Sapindus rarak
40. Schima wallichii
41. Sindora siamensis
42. Spondias axillaris
43. Swietenia mahagoni
44. Toxicodendron (Rhus)
succedanea
45. Tectona grandis
46. Toona ciliata
47. Vatica harmandii
48. Wrightia arborea
49. Xylia xylocarpa
50. Zanthoxylum rhetsa
This species monograph is prepared by: Martin Greijmans
Design by: Chongkham Phonekeo
25. Gliricidia sepium
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Description
Remark
Mai Sa Ko is becoming one of the most frequently planted
trees in tropical Southeast Asia. The species is popular
because of its fast growth with straight stems and easy
tending.
Mai Sa Ko is a large pioneer tree up to 45 m tall and up to
1.5 m in diameter. It sheds it leaves in the dry season.
Naturally it occurs in secondary forest, sometimes as large
trees in primary forest. The species is fast growing when
young and very light demanding. Flowering is in August
to October and fruiting in October to December. Mai Sa
Ko starts already flowering after 4-5 years.
Use
Mai Sa Ko wood is light in weight with poor durability. It
is used for paper pulp, light interior construction, boxes,
ceiling boards, wooden shoes, toys, chop sticks, carving,
pencils, furniture, veneer and plywood. The fast growing
species is suitable for reforestation of denuded areas and
in agroforestry systems as a wind break and shade tree
for crops. Leaves and bark have medicinal properties. The
leaves can be used as a fodder for cattle. The
inflorescences and fruits are edible. From the roots and
bark a yellow dye can be obtained.
3
Site requirements
Climate
Mai Sa Ko grows on altitudes of up to 1,000 m. Mean
annual rainfall is about 1,500-5,000 mm, but it can
withstand very dry areas. The mean annual temperature
is 15-32 degrees Celsius. Mai Sa Ko is frost sensitive.
Soil
The species grows on many soil types, but prefers well
drained, fertile soils along streams. Mai Sa Ko tolerates
periodical flooding.
Establishment of plantation
The planting site is cleared and ploughed in MarchApril
and planting holes are prepared before planting in May to
July.
A firebreak is made with 46 m wide strips by ploughing,
digging or controlled burning. Fencing is required to
protect the seedlings against cattle.
During transport to the planting site the seedlings should
be covered by a shade-net to prevent overheating or drying
out. Seedlings of 6-7 months of about 0.30 m are suitable
to plant out.
Artificial fertiliser or decomposed manure should both
be used, depending on the soil conditions. In a diameter
of 0.30-0.50 m around each seedling 15 gram fertiliser
NPK 46-00-00 is applied after 1 month. A second and
third application is given after 3 and 5 months, and in the
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second year 1 or 2 applications. In case of planting on
slopes, dig 2-3 holes 0.20-0.30 m above the seedling and
apply the fertiliser in the holes.
Replacement planting can be carried out after 1 month.
Weeding is carried out 2-3 times per year, with the first
weeding after 1 month of planting at the same time as
applying fertiliser. Weeding involves clearing all vegetation
surrounding the seedling in a diameter of 1 m. This is
important as Mai Sa Ko needs full sun light to develop.
Weeded material can later be used as mulch around the
seedlings. Another 2 weedings are needed to assist the
seedling growth as well as for fire protection. The weeded
material can be used as a mulch around the seedlings to
conserve soil moisture.
A rotation of 5-7 years is sufficient to produce pulp, and
25-35 years for timber. Thinning should be carried out
early and regularly.
Firebreak making around the planting site by ploughing, digging or burning.
5
Seed handling
Basic data
About 20,000,000 seed per kg.
The germination rate varies from 25 % for fresh seed and
95 % when stored appropriately.
Seed collection
Fruits are collected from October to December.
Collection of ripe fruits is when they change colour to
dark brown and before seed is dispersed by wind. Shake
or cut branches with ripe fruits with a long bamboo pole
and collect the fruits. Collect in time because ripe fruits
are eaten by birds and bats, and on the floor by ants,
cattle and other animals. The fruits are cut into smaller
pieces and dried in the sun. The fruit parts are then gently
crushed and cleaned by using a fine sieve. Alternatively
the fresh fruits can be rubbed and washed in water until
seeds are exposed and then dried in the sun.
Storage
Dried seed should be stored in airtight containers in a
cool and dark place. At room temperature the seed can
be stored for at least 6 months when it is dried appropriate.
Cool storage of seed can prolong the seed viability up to
2 years.
Pre-treatment of seed
Pre-treatment to stimulate germination is not necessary.
6
Nursery techniques
Seed sowing
Because of the small size of the Mai Sa Ko seed, they
are mixed with fine sand in a ratio of 1:10 and sown in
seed beds in November-December. Seed can also be sown
from a salt or pepper pot.
After sowing the seed is covered with 1 cm layer of sand
to protect the small seed during watering.
Sow the tiny seed from
a salt and pepper pot.
A mulch of grass can be used to conserve water and
protect seed and soil against large droplets of water. Not
too much water should be given in order to prevent
damping off. Watering should be done with a fine mist.
When seedlings emerge take away the mulch and allow
the seedlings to grow in full sunlight.
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Container
For Mai Sa Ko polythene bags of sizes 3/5 x 7 inches are
appropriate when seedlings stay in the nursery between
8-12 months.
Soil
The soil mixture for the seed bed or potting mix should
consist of 1 part sand and 1 part forest topsoil. About
10-25% of coconut-husks can be added to the mix to
improve root growth.
Transplanting
After 8-12 weeks the seedlings are dug out of the seedbed
and transplanted into polythene bags.
Fertiliser
Fertiliser is applied 2 weeks after transplanting to improve
seedling growth. This can be repeated every 2 weeks when
fast growth is required.
Transplanting of
the Mai Sa Ko
seedlings into the
polythene bags.
8
Weed control
Manual weeding needs to be carried out once a month to
decrease growth competition for the seedlings.
Root pruning
Root pruning is necessary for seedlings staying in the
nursery for a second year. This should be done at least 2
months before planting them out. Cut the roots of the
seedlings which are growing out of the polythene bags.
Hardening off
Hardening off can be done by increasing the sunlight at
the end of AprilMay by removing the shade net.
Shade and shelter
Around 50-70% of sunlight is required for Mai Sa Ko.
No additional protection is needed.
Insects and fungi
Attacks from diseases or attacks from insects are not
serious. Sometimes insects are attack the leaves recognised
by the rolled together leaf. When spotted remove them
by hand. Fungi development can be prevented by
appropriate watering and ventilation.
Remark
When there are enough seed trees the undergrowth can
be removed to stimulate seed germination and natural
regeneration.
LAO TREE SEED PROJECT
Copies of the species monographs can be obtained
from:
Street address:
Lao Tree Seed Project, Nam Souang Forest Research Centre,
Naxaythong District, Vientiane Municipality, Lao P.D.R.
Postal address:
Lao Tree Seed Project, Box 9111, Vientiane, Lao P.D.R.
Tel.: +856-20-517 408
Tel.: +856-20-509 291
e-mail: LTSP@laotel.com